“I’m going to make the crust while you’re at the store. That way it’ll be ready when you get back.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be back in a little while.” Andrew said and they both walked out the door.
Once they were gone everyone followed Karla into the kitchen and she started making the pie crust.
Manuel sat back and focused on Callie, he couldn’t figure out why he felt such a protective instinct toward her, but the moment she walked into the kitchen earlier he was overcome with the need to protect her. He had thought it was an older brother instinct triggered by the hurt in her eyes, but when they were talking about her talking to Chase he was overwhelmed with an undeniable fear.
As Manuel was trying to figure out the cause of his reaction, Callie was lost in thoughts of her own. I don’t need another big brother. She thought to herself as she felt his eyes on her. There was something about his reaction that set her off, but she couldn’t figure out what. For some unexplainable reason she needed him to see her as capable and smart.
They were both pulled from their thoughts by Leslie’s and Andrew’s return. For the next couple of hours the house was filled with laughter and fun as Leslie cooked and they ate together. When dinner was finished the men went to the media room while the ladies cleaned up.
“I’m scared.” Callie said once the guys were gone.
“Want to talk about it?” Leslie asked her.
“I’m scared that Chase is going to hate me. I know telling my parents, and everyone else, was the right thing to do, but what if it hurts him more than helps him?”
“How could it hurt him?” Rylee asked as she loaded the plates into the dishwasher.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just worried that something is going to go wrong tomorrow while dad and Dr. Peterson are talking to his dad. Mr. Logan is a little hard to deal with sometimes. I have only met him three times because Chase always kept me away from him as much as possible, but those three times were enough for me to know that he’s really hard on Chase and expects him to be perfect at everything he does.”
“So, him putting pressure on Chase could be what led him to drink in the first place.” Kiara observed.
“I think he drinks.” Callie said as she handed the last of the pots and pans to Karla to put away.
“Like father, like son.” Rylee added and Callie sneered at her. “What?” she asked innocently.
“Chase is a good guy.” Callie said defensively.
“I never said he wasn’t. Are you forgetting that I’ve known him since kindergarten?” Rylee snapped back at her. “I know that you really like him Cal, but I also know that if he’s drinking and pressuring you to do something you aren’t ready for then he isn’t the guy we all thought he was.”
Callie looked at the floor and took two deep breaths. “I’m sorry Ry. I’m just really scared right now.”
“I understand, Cal and I’m sorry for everything. I just want you safe and happy.”
“That’s what we all want.” Leslie said as she wrapped Callie in a tight hug.
Before anything else could be said the guys walked back in and announced that everyone was watching a movie together. The rest of the night passed quickly and when everyone climbed into their sleeping bags on the media room floor the talk ended and they all fell asleep quickly.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning Andrew was up before any of the kids. He ate a quick breakfast and was leaving just as Karla came downstairs. “Andrew.” Karla said softly.
“What is it sweetheart?” He asked her.
“Callie told us last night that Mr. Logan drinks and I just wanted to tell you to be careful. People who drink are unstable.”
“I know they are, Karla. Remind me to tell you about my childhood. I don`t know why I haven’t told you yet. Now I have to go. I’m meeting Mark in ten minutes at his house and we’re going to see Mr. Logan together.”
“I’ll remind you later.
“Sounds good. We’ll be back in a little while.” Andrew said and they both walked out the door.
Once they were gone everyone followed Karla into the kitchen and she started making the pie crust.
Manuel sat back and focused on Callie, he couldn’t figure out why he felt such a protective instinct toward her, but the moment she walked into the kitchen earlier he was overcome with the need to protect her. He had thought it was an older brother instinct triggered by the hurt in her eyes, but when they were talking about her talking to Chase he was overwhelmed with an undeniable fear.
As Manuel was trying to figure out the cause of his reaction, Callie was lost in thoughts of her own. I don’t need another big brother. She thought to herself as she felt his eyes on her. There was something about his reaction that set her off, but she couldn’t figure out what. For some unexplainable reason she needed him to see her as capable and smart.
They were both pulled from their thoughts by Leslie’s and Andrew’s return. For the next couple of hours the house was filled with laughter and fun as Leslie cooked and they ate together. When dinner was finished the men went to the media room while the ladies cleaned up.
“I’m scared.” Callie said once the guys were gone.
“Want to talk about it?” Leslie asked her.
“I’m scared that Chase is going to hate me. I know telling my parents, and everyone else, was the right thing to do, but what if it hurts him more than helps him?”
“How could it hurt him?” Rylee asked as she loaded the plates into the dishwasher.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just worried that something is going to go wrong tomorrow while dad and Dr. Peterson are talking to his dad. Mr. Logan is a little hard to deal with sometimes. I have only met him three times because Chase always kept me away from him as much as possible, but those three times were enough for me to know that he’s really hard on Chase and expects him to be perfect at everything he does.”
“So, him putting pressure on Chase could be what led him to drink in the first place.” Kiara observed.
“I think he drinks.” Callie said as she handed the last of the pots and pans to Karla to put away.
“Like father, like son.” Rylee added and Callie sneered at her. “What?” she asked innocently.
“Chase is a good guy.” Callie said defensively.
“I never said he wasn’t. Are you forgetting that I’ve known him since kindergarten?” Rylee snapped back at her. “I know that you really like him Cal, but I also know that if he’s drinking and pressuring you to do something you aren’t ready for then he isn’t the guy we all thought he was.”
Callie looked at the floor and took two deep breaths. “I’m sorry Ry. I’m just really scared right now.”
“I understand, Cal and I’m sorry for everything. I just want you safe and happy.”
“That’s what we all want.” Leslie said as she wrapped Callie in a tight hug.
Before anything else could be said the guys walked back in and announced that everyone was watching a movie together. The rest of the night passed quickly and when everyone climbed into their sleeping bags on the media room floor the talk ended and they all fell asleep quickly.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning Andrew was up before any of the kids. He ate a quick breakfast and was leaving just as Karla came downstairs. “Andrew.” Karla said softly.
“What is it sweetheart?” He asked her.
“Callie told us last night that Mr. Logan drinks and I just wanted to tell you to be careful. People who drink are unstable.”
“I know they are, Karla. Remind me to tell you about my childhood. I don`t know why I haven’t told you yet. Now I have to go. I’m meeting Mark in ten minutes at his house and we’re going to see Mr. Logan together.”
“I’ll remind you later.
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